A weekly guide to what’s happening
Green Fix
Plant-Based Eating Workshop
Taking steps to reduce meat consumption even slightly has been proven to not only aid human health, but also the environment. Join cookbook author David Gabbe in a demo and lecture class on how to prepare quick, easy and low-stress plant-based meals that are tasty and nourishing. Recipe handouts and food samples are included. This workshop is designed both for adults and teens, advance online registration is recommended.
INFO: Â 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, May 21. New Leaf Community Market, 1101 Fair Ave., Santa Cruz. newleaf.com/events. Free.
Art Seen
Mountain Community Theater’s ‘Rapture, Blister, Burn’
Written by Gina Gionfriddo and directed by Mountain Community Theater’s Peter Gelblum, Rapture, Blister, Burn is a comedy about feminists and love that garnered a Pulitzer Prize finalist spot. The play tells the story of two women who chose opposite paths; while one built her career in academia, the other built a home with her husband and children. Years later, the two women wonder if they made the right decisions. Photo: Alaina Boys.
INFO: 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday. Show runs Friday, May 17-Sunday, June 9. Park Hall, 9400 Mill St., Ben Lomond. 336-4777, mctshows.org. $17 student or senior/$20 general.
Saturday 5/18
Staff Of Life 50th Anniversary Party
Whether it’s the unparalleled bulk bins, healthy snack selection or impressive charcuterie, every Santa Cruzan has a special Staff of Life product or memory. It’s no surprise that Staff of Life has been around for 50 years; it is, after all, one of the local businesses at the core of Santa Cruz’s very identity. Join the staff and community in toasting the last half century, and celebrating the next 50 years, with more than 100 of Staff of Life’s suppliers offering free product samples and tastings, wine and beer tastings, cosmetic makeovers, kid’s activities and face painting, vitamin and supplement samples, and free all-natural BBQ samples from Staff of Life Natural Meats.
INFO: Noon-5 p.m. Staff of Life Natural Food Market, 1266 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. 423-8632, staffoflifemarket.com. Free.
Thursday 5-16-Saturday 5/18
Palace Art 70th Anniversary Celebration
Join Santa Cruz County’s most iconic art supply store for three days of arts workshops, demos and art exhibitions in celebration of their 70th anniversary. There will be festivities at both the Santa Cruz and Capitola locations, and activities will include everything from printmaking to watercolor painting to paper marbling to card making. All events are free, but some do require pre-registration, so check out the schedule at stores.gopalace.com/anniversary.
INFO: 1-5 p.m. on Thursday, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday-Saturday. Palace Art and Office Supply, 1407 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz, 427-1550 and 1501 41st. Ave., Capitola, 464-2700. gopalace.com. Free.
Saturday 5/18
Art Expo
This outdoor inaugural Art Expo will feature artwork from over 50 individual artists and galleries throughout the greater Bay Area and Northern California Regions, from Sacramento to Monterey. The weekend event at the Old Wrigley Building lot will also include food from Ate3one and Chuy Santa Cruz, plus guest wineries. This art block-party is sponsored by Event Santa Cruz, the Art Cave and Idea Fab Labs Santa Cruz.
INFO: 3-7 p.m. The Art Cave, 2956 Mission St., Santa Cruz. (949) 413-9104. $5-$10.
Saturday 5/18
Funniest Student in Santa Cruz
DNA’s Comedy Lab is looking for the funniest student in Santa Cruz. Winners will receive cash, prizes, a chance to work a weekend show at DNA’s Comedy Lab and radio time on KPIG. It’s first-come, first-served, and every student will be judged to see if they progress to the big show the following day. All you need to do is show up and audition. Each audition is three minutes long. Those 16 and over must bring a current, valid student ID. Those under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. If selected, you must be able to compete the following day.
INFO: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. DNA’s Comedy Lab, 155 S. River St., Santa Cruz. dnascomedylab.com. Free.
Friday 5/17
Women Who Rock Our World
Meet the Ace Of Cups—the beloved female rock group from the 1960s San Francisco psychedelic scene. From the Acid Tests to the protests, the free concerts in Golden Gate Park to the ballrooms of San Francisco, they shared stages with everyone from the Band to the Grateful Dead, and were chosen to open for Jimi Hendrix the week after his performance at The Monterey Pop Festival. It isn’t surprising that in the midst of it all, they didn’t have much time for an album—until now. Join historian Douglas Brinkley, Kate Bowland, Lynda Francis and Anne Steinhardt for an evening celebrating women of the counterculture. Proceeds benefit  Monarch Family Services.
INFO: Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. riotheatre.com. $25.
